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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (April 20, 2016)
Polk County News Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 20, 2016 3A City works to regain old city hall building DEADLINES NEWS DEADLINES For inclusion in the Wednesday edition of the Itemizer-Observer: Social news (weddings, engagements, anniver- saries, births, milestones) — 5 p.m. on Thursday. Community events — Noon on Friday for both the Community Notebook and Community Calendar. Letters to the editor — 10 a.m. on Monday. Obituaries — 4 p.m. on Monday. ADVERTISING DEADLINES Retail display ads — 3 p.m. Friday. Classified display ads — 11 a.m. on Monday. Classified line ads — Noon on Monday. Classified ads are updated daily on www.polkio.com. Public notices — Noon on Friday. CORRECTIONS The Polk County Itemizer- Observer is committed to pub- lishing accurate news, feature and sports reports. If you see anything that requires a cor- rection or clarification, call the newsroom at 503-623-2373 or send an email to ementzer@polkio.com. WEBSITE The Polk County Itemizer- Observer website, www.polkio.com, is updat- ed each week by Wednes- day afternoon. There, you will find nearly every story that appears in the print version of the newspaper, as well as some items, in- cluding additional photos, that do not appear in print due to space limitations. The Itemizer-Observer is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Watch for breaking news, links to sto- ries, sports scores updates and more. WEATHER RECORDED HIGH LOW April 12............. 60 April 13............. 61 April 14............. 56 April 15............. 63 April 16............. 69 April 17............. 84 April 18............. 88 47 46 43 39 39 44 48 RAIN .11 .17 .72 .T .00 .00 .00 Rainfall during April — 1.00 in. Rain through April 18 — 18.09 in. Pencil us in! www.polkio.com By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer file Heidi Schulz, author of “Hook’s Revenge,” and “Hook’s Revenge: the Pirate Code,” vis- its the library during one of the author talks, now regularly featured at the library. Library programs evolve Organizers, leaders check out new activities, draw crowds By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — Notice any- thing different about the Dallas Public Library recent- ly? If you have, it’s by design. With support and assis- tance from the library board and the Friends of the Dallas Library, staff has developed programs to inspire people of all ages to pay a visit. The popular adult color- ing night, a series of Oregon author talks, a unique “sto- rytelling” festival and a re- vived teen program are among the programs that aren’t necessarily just about checking out books. Cari Richey, the chair- woman of the library board and president of Friends of Dallas Library, gives credit to Dallas City Manager Ron Foggin and Library Director Mark Greenhalgh-Johnson for envisioning the library as thriving, not simply surviv- ing. “He (Foggin) and Mark saw the same vision. One of the reasons why I joined the board was because I did too. I didn’t want to see libraries die,” Richey said. Far from dying, the li- brary, which began keeping track of visits, is seeing more people come through the doors, Richey said. “I cannot give the staff enough kudos. They work really, really hard. They are dedicated and willing. They are just super,” Richey said. “I really give Mark tons of kudos for what he’s done.” She added that’s required a willingness to change per- spectives on the role li- braries should serve in their communities, something Richey admits struggling with at times. She said activities such as author visits and story time seem more about “entertain- ing people” than reading books. Dallas Library’s new hours Starting May 2, the li- brary will have expanded operating hours. The new hours are: • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday — 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; • Thursday and Friday — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and • Saturday — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Closed Sunday. “You have to change your thinking and your outlook,” she said. That goes for the Friends of the Library, too. The group is contemplat- ing changing the time it does its book sale from Dal- las’ annual Summerfest cele- bration to holding two: one in spring and another in the fall. It held its spring sale the first weekend in April. “We were real pleased,” she said. “We thought we had a really good turnout.” Dudley’s Hearing Aid Service 541-741-2936 Hearing Aids Testing • Sales • Service Come see Curtis every Tuesday 10am - Noon at Dallas Senior Center, 955 SE Jefferson St. In Home Service: Call for details. May 7 - Sept. 29 General Vendors 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Food Vendors 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Featuring Growers, Producers & Artisans from the Polk County area and beyond! Sooo many new vendors! Live music each week 11 am to 1 pm Sponsors: West Valley Hospital • Fowler Affiliates • Itemizer-Observer • Dallas Retirement Village • Squirrel’s Taxi Seeking: Vendors, Non-Profit Organizations and Sponsors 182 Academy St., Dallas (Corner of Main & Academy) http://www.exploredallasoregon.org/bounty-market.html 503-623-2564 Facebook.com/bountymarket The sale didn’t make as much money as last year’s Summerfest sale, but that was expected as it was short- er. Holding a sale during Summerfest has its advan- tages, including pulling in more visitors from out of town. “We are still debating that,” Richey said. She said the group has long-term plans modeled after what other friends of li- brary organizations have done: opening a year-round book store. “That’s our vision, to eventually have a book store, which I just think would be so cool,” she said. Those plans are just be- ginning, and she hopes it will be another addition to an ever-expanding lineup at the library. “We will see,” Richey said. “There are always new things on the horizon, which I think is terrific.” For more information on library events and programs: go to ci.dallas.or.us/library. INDEPENDENCE — The city of Independence won a summary judgement on March 23 for the old city hall building, which was pur- chased by Jewels Cressor. Cressor opened the Family Treasures Market- place in the building, a mix of shops offering a variety of crafts and knickknacks. She hadn’t paid her bill on the property for at least a year, City Manager David Clyne said. Cressor bought the cor- ner building from the city i n Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 4 f o r $385,000. She said she in- vested at least $85,000 in the property. In September 2014, she requested a third extension on the closing date. The council declined the deal. The foreclosure process had been delayed multiple times before the March 23 judgement. “Cressor believes delay is in her interest,” Clyne said. “The longer she retains the building without having to pay for it, she believes she will be able to make up for it and perhaps come up with the money.” The city council has dis- cussed alternative uses for the building once it re- gains ownership, Clyne Government said. One line of thought is creating a smart agricul- ture business incubator. But first, the old city hall must be sold at a sheriff’s sale. The city will “bid” the value of the judgement as determined by the judge. If no one bids higher, it will regain the old building. “The value of the judge- ment is the full amount of the building costs, and anything that’s past due, any penalties associated with that and all costs — attorney’s fees, court costs, filing costs,” Clyne said. “That makes up the total of what’s due.” Essentially, the city would be able to write off what Cressor owed the city, Clyne said. “That’s a decision we have to work with,” he said. Clyne said allowing the situation to drag out is un- fair to the taxpayers. “We’re trying to get the building back and put it back into use,” Clyne said.
